Check out this video on Children’s Mental Health.  An outreach campaign sponsored by Clarity Child Guidance Center aims to point parents in the right direction for children’s mental health. Visit www.help4mykid.org for more info.

Check out this video posted by Bring Change 2 Mind, a non-profit organization working toward erasing the stigma and discrimination associated with mental illness.  For more information about Bring Change 2 Mind, visit their website at www.bringchange2mind.org.

It is important that you plan your interventions for your clients.  Keep in mind that the client’s treatment plan should guide treatment of your client.  The interventions of each session should be aimed at reaching the objectives and goals within the treatment plan.  This intervention planning outline allows you to plan interventions based on the client’s goals and objectives.  It can be used strictly or as a guide.

1.  Document time that session actually started.
2.  Review client’s domain, goals and objectives planned for today’s session.  If you are planning to work on more than one domain, goal or objective list them here.  Discuss client’s current status in the domain and need for interventions to reach the objective and/or goal.  (5 minutes)
1. Domain I – ________________________________________________
2. Goal I – ____________________________________________________
3. Objective I – _______________________________________________
3.  Warm-up Activity – This would relate to the activity for today. Some ideas are listed below.  (5 minutes)
1. Brainstorming
2. Visualization
3. Deep Breathing
4. Quick Game of ….
4.  Intervention or Activity for the day – This would be the intervention for the day.  Some ideas are listed below.  These interventions would be the same or similar to interventions listed on the plan to assist client in reaching the objectives and goals.   Make sure you have the necessary materials for your activity prior to your session. (approximately 40 – 60 minutes)
5. Listing the client’s spending for the past week and then creating a budget for the upcoming week.  This activity may involve using a worksheet or scrap paper.
6. Educating client on appropriate hygiene by creating a daily checklist of tasks for client.  This may involve a step-by-step demonstration of hygiene task such as brushing teeth or brushing hair.
7. Identifying 2 – 3 triggers for anxiety and then identifying 2 – 3 coping strategies.  This may involve creating a visual model of these triggers and coping strategies for client to keep with him or her (e.g. key chain with laminated cards of coping strategies, poster board with post it notes of triggers and coping strategies, etc.)
8. Reviewing a budget, schedule or checklist that has already been created and making adjustments based on client’s feedback.  This session will look similar to the original session but will update and revise information as needed.
9. Assist client in accessing resources they need at a local agency.  This session may involve role-play prior to or in-between actual dialogue with staff members at local agency.  This may also involve advocating for client during interaction to assist in accurately articulating client’s needs.  This may also involve assisting client in organizing and/or identifying necessary documents for appointment.  In the event that you are waiting at a local agency for more than 30-45 minutes with a client, you may want to engage client in another planned intervention to make the best use of your time.  This must be done in a way that does not breach client’s confidentiality (e.g. in a private location).
10.  Review today’s session and client’s progress toward goal. Client’s reflections about today’s sessions/activity.  Obtain feedback from client about today’s session.  (5 minutes)
11.  Plan date, time, and possible activities for next session.  (5 minutes)
12.  Document end time of session

Community support services are rehabilitative and provide environmental support considered essential in assisting the client in achieving rehabilitation and recovery goals that focus on building and maintaining a therapeutic relationship with the client.  Services promote the development of age-appropriate behavior. Community Support Workers assist clients in defining their goals for recovery and in meeting those goals. The strengths of the clients are emphasized in the client’s plan of care or treatment plan.

Community Support Workers first build a relationship with the client, develop the recovery plan together, and help the client to implement the plan. Some of the activities of the community support worker are to assist clients to maintain psychiatric stability; visit clients in their homes; teach menu planning, how to grocery shop, and how to cook; assist in looking for housing and employment. Community Support Workers also work with clients on substance abuse issues and physical health care needs.

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